Safety cutoff filler nozzle



Jan. 7, 1958 O. J. KRAUSE SAFETY CUTOFF FILLER NOZZ LE Filed Jan. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. O. J. KRAUSE A 7' TORNEYS United States Patent SAFETY cUrorF FILLER NOZZLE Otto J. Krause, Bartlesville, Okla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January 26, 1956, Serial No. 561,393

6 Claims. (Cl. 141208) This invention relates to automatically operated liquid dispensing nozzles or flow control valves. In one aspect it relates to an automatic liquid dispensing nozzle, having avacuum actuated cut-ofi valve, which is adapted for filling a receptacle with a liquid, such as gasoline. In another aspect it relates to an automatic liquid dispensing nozzle equipped with a valve that is manually opened and automatically shut off when the level of liquid in the receptacle being filled reaches a given point on the nozzle or when the nozzle is withdrawn from the receptacle either intentionally or accidentally.

Although my improved automatic filling nozzle has a variety of uses, it is particularly well adapted for the dispensing of gasoline in automobile fuel tanks, and my discussion and drawings will illustrate a nozzle designed for such use but it is to be understood that my improved nozzle is not to be unduly limited thereto.

Many gasoline filling stations use a standard type of automatic filling nozzle for filling the tank of an automobile with gasoline. After insertion of the nozzle in the tank spout and while gasoline is flowing, the attendant is free to perform other duties associated with servicing the automobile, such as cleaning the windshield, inflating tires, etc. When the level of gasoline in the tank reaches a predetermined point on the nozzle, the valve means in the filling nozzle automatically stops the flow of gasoline and the attendant may then remove the nozzle from the tank spout when he has completed his other servicing duties. If the nozzle is left unattended in the tank spout while gasoline is flowing, it is imperative that provision be made to prevent spillage of gasoline. If during dispensing of gasoline there should be any inadvertent removal of the nozzle from the tank spout such as would occur if, owing to the weight of the hose and valve structure, the nozzle falls out of the filling spout, or if the automobile should accidentally move, or if the gasoline line hose should be accidentally struck, etc., unnecessary waste of gasoline and a fire hazard may occur. While automatic filling nozzles having safety means for guarding against the aforementioned happenstances have been proposed, they are limited in application to those tank spouts which will accept the nozzle and actuate the safety means. The tank spouts of different vehicles often vary in length and inside diameter and these prior art automatic filling nozzles equipped with such safety means are not adapted to fit all these different filling spouts.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic liquid dispensing nozzle having safety means to prevent the spillage of liquids being dispensed should the nozzle be inadvertently removed from the tank of the receptacle being filled. v 7

Another object is to provide an automatic filling nozzle which will not only shut off automatically when the tank is full, but which is so de signed that elevation of the nozzle from the spout of the tankv serves toautomatically shut off the valve.

Another object is to provide an improvedautomatic fill- Patented Jan, 7, 1958 ing nozzle having a vacuum actuated cut-oil valve and adapted for filling a receptacle regardless of the length or inside diameter of the receptacles filling spout.

A further object is to provide an automatic filling nozzle which is held in an open position by reason of its contact with the marginal surfaces of the opening of the receptacle being filled, but which will automatically stop the flow of liquid when the receptacle has been filled or if the nozzle is withdrawn.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying specification, appended claims and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view in partial cross-section showing an automatic liquid dispensing nozzle embodying my invention; and

Figures 2 and 3 are side elevational views showing the discharge end of the filler nozzle of Figure 1 inserted in two different types of tank spouts.

My improved safety means find particular application in that class of liquid dispensing nozzle having a vacuum actuated cut-off valve in which the shut-off is efiected automatically and in response to the sudden reduction in pressure in a vacuum bleed line which is in communication with a vacuum chamber so that the negative pressure is utilized to release the valve, allowing spring means to close it. in the description which follows, I have described such a conventional filling nozzle having a vacuum actuated cut-off valve which is used in conjunction with the improved safety means of my invention. Since such a conventional filling nozzle taken alone is not my invention, the description thereof will not be detailed and reference is made to the U. S. Patent 2,582,195 to Leonard H. Duerr for fuller description.

Referring to the drawings now, and to Figure l in particular, the liquid dispensing nozzle generally designated 6 has a connection 7 for the usual hose, a normally closed main valve 8 biased to closed position by a compression spring 9, a pressure responsive diaphragm mechanism 11, and is operated to an open position by lever or valve handle 12 provided with fulcrum 13. The body of the nozzle 6 is provided with a fluid passageway 14 which leads to a valve seat 16 on which main valve 8 is normally seated by spring 9. A ring 17 is mounted in the passageway below the valve seat 16 and the interior of the ring 17 has a tapered surface which provides the flow passageway of the valve with a Venturi. When the main valve 8 is opened, inlet flow passageway 14 communicates with an outlet flow passageway 18 in which a post 19 is disposed and thence communicates with flow passageway 21 of the The main valve 8 is provided with a valve stem 24 which extends downwardly and outwardly of the body of nozzle 6 through a packing gland 26. The lower end of the stem 24- is disposed to be engaged by hand lever 12 when the lever is actuated upwardly, to lift valve 8 off its seat 16 against the force of spring 9. Fulcrum 13 comprises a pin 27 on which the lever 12 is pivotally mounted. The pin is supported by a clevis or yoke 28 between the arms of which the pivoted end of lever 12 is disposed. The yoke 28 is attached to the lower end of a connecting link or plunger 29. Upward movement of lever 12 will lift the valve 8 from its seat 16 against the compression of spring 9 to allow the gasoline to flow from passageway 14 to passageway 18. The lever 12 may be manually held in position to allow this flow but preferentially is held in position by means of a latch member 31 such as shown in the U. S. Patent 2,528,747 to Clarence Paul Gravelle.

Latch 31 is mounted at the rear end of a guard 32 by means of a yoke 33, pivot pin 34 and spring 36. Spring 36 is adapted to urge the latch 31 counter-clockwise around pin 34. The latch 31 has friction surfaces 37, 38, and 39, which are adapted to engage the rounded rear end 41 of lever 12 to hold it in any one of three positions, pressure of the spring 9 on the lever 12 creating sufiicient friction between the end 41 of the lever 12 and the friction surfaces of the latch 31 to prevent spring 36 from moving latch 31 so long as the spring 9 is compressed, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

Plunger 29 is slideably disposed in post 319, which is integral with the body 6, and an externally threaded sleeve 42, the latter being threaded into post 1%. Plunger 29 is urged upwardly by a coil spring d3 but is restricted in its downward travel by fulcrum 13 with the base portion 44 of guard 32.

Normally the plunger 29 is held in a fixed position by a locking mechanism comprising a plurality of balls 46 nested in radial openings in the plunger 29 and an annular shoulder 47 on the interior of post 1 The balls 46 are held on shoulder 47 by a pin 48 secured to the underside of diaphragm 11. The pin 48 is provided with a tapered surface 49 and below the latter with a depending stem 51 which surface serves as a ball retainer. Thus, when the pin 48 is raised to a position where the tapered portion 49 is adjacent the balls 46, plunger 29 will be actuated downwardly, provided hand lever 12 is in its opening position. This movement of the plunger 29 results because of the strong force of spring 9 and the relatively weaker force of spring 43. When the plunger 29 moves downwardly, fulcrum 13 is released whereby the valve stem 24 is lowered permitting valve 8 to close. The valve 8 will occupy intermediate positions when the hand lever 12 is correspondingly raised to occupy the various positions shown by the dotted lines 52, 54 and 56.

The diaphragm 11 is actuated upwardly by suction (or reduction in pressure) in chamber 57 when liquid is conducted through the main valve 8. Chamber 57 communicates with a vacuum bleed line 58 which terminates near the outlet of nozzle 22 in a normally seated valve assembly 59. Chamber 57 also communicates with the flow passageway 18 adjacent and immediately below valve 8 through a passageway 61. Passageway 61 terminates in an annular groove 62 immediately below a tapered surface which provides a converged or constricted throat 63. The How passageway of the valve 3 is designed to provide a Venturi effect on the diaphragm 11 which may be adjusted in flow area for various positions of the valve 8, other than closed, and thereby insure that sufiicient negative pressure will be developed for variable rates of flow.

In operation, fulcrum 13 is in its initial locked position when the operator inserts the nozzle portion 22 in the spout of a receptacle desired to be filled. When the operator lifts the hand lever 12 to its desired position and locks the same in the latch member 31, valve stem 24 moves upwardly upon contact with the base portion 53 of lever 12 and lifts the valve 8 from its seat 16. The lever will now occupy a position such as shown by dotted line 52. Liquid will now flow through the nozzle from the inlet passageway 14 through the valve and thence to the flow passageways 18 and 21. Due to a Venturi efiect, a negative pressure arises in the dia phragm chamber 57 resulting in air being drawn through the valve mechanism 59 when the same is in communication with a region exterior to the nozzle 22, said air being conducted through vacuum bleed line 58 from the valve mechanism 59 into diaphragm chamber 57. The air in diaphragm chamber 57 is thence drawn therefrom through passageway 61 to the liquid flowing through the valve flow passageway. When the valve mechanism 59 is closed, air is evacuated from the diaphragm chamber 57 whereby the differential pressure acting thereon causes the diaphragm 11 to move upwardly against the force of spring 64. The diaphragm 11 carries with it pin 48 whereby the balls 46 are released as previously described. Plunger 29 and its fulcrum 1.3 are then moved downwardly by spring 9 acting through the valve stem 24 whereby the main valve 8 is automatically closed and the flow to the container is shut off. When the fulcrum 13 moves downward, pressure of the latch spring 36 is sufiicient to move the latch member 31 to the dotted position 66 whereby the end portion 41 of lever 12 is disengaged from the friction surface of the latch member 31 to which it was engaged. Lever 12 thereby drops to the normal inoperative position. The automatic valve parts are now restored to the normal position as follows: plunger 29 is reset by spring 43 to the position where the balls 46 will be deflected outwardly to the locking position, the balls being forced to this position by a tapered portion 49 of pin 48 which will have been released to its normal position by spring 64 when the main valve 8 is closed.

As was pointed out heretofore, because of the wide variation in tank spouts of different makes of automobiles, etc, there has arisen a need for an automatic liquid dispensing nozzle, provided with suitable safety means, which may be readily inserted in any type of tank spout regardless of the length or inside diameter of the spout. In order to achieve this I provide the outlet of the bleed line 58 with a valve mechanism 59 including a valve 71 which is normally seated at 72 and which has a valve stem 73 which protrudes from the interior of the valve mechanism 59 through an outlet opening 74 in the wall of the nozzle portion 22. Valve 71 is normally seated due to the tension of spring 76 to effectively close the opening '74. A spring element 77 is retained at one end 78 in the nozzle 22 near its discharge outlet, for example, by passing through an opening 79 in the nozzle 22. Spring member 77 preferably extends substantially downthe length of the nozzle 22 and at its other end is secured to a yoke hinge 81. Yoke hinge 81 is in turn connected to the body 6 neor the lever guard 32 by means of a pin 82. A portion of the spring member 77 is surrounded by suitable resilient means 83 near its upper end. ,Resilient means 83 is provided with a plurality of lugs 84 which do not interfere with insertion of the nozzle and to some extent prevent unintentional removal of the nozzle 22 from the spout of the container being filled. The spring member 77 can be suitably fabricated from beryllium-copper alloy or stainless steel and the resilient means 83 can be made from material preferentially resistant to the attack of the gasoline with which it may come into contact.

When the filling nozzle is inserted into the spout of a container being filled, this operation forces the spring member 77 to move the valve stem 73 inwardly against the tension of spring 76 in the valve mechanism 59 thereby opening the same and allowing communication of the bleed line 58 with the air exterior to the nozzle '22. This occurs upon the insertion of the nozzle 22 in the tank spout because a portion of the spring member 77 contacts the marginal surfaces of the tank spout forcing said portion toward the exterior wall of the nozzle 22. As stated heretofore, the closing of the bleed line 58 to air actuates the valve mechanism and stops liquid from flowing therethrough. When the liquid in the container being filled reaches the opening 74, submerging the same and thereby closing the bleed line 58, flow of liquid through valve mechanism stops, spring member 77 still retaining the valve 72 in its open position. When the nozzle is removed from the tank spout, the spring member 77 is no longer depressed towardthe nozzle 22 or in contact with the valve stem 73. The tension of spring 76 thereby is allowed to force the valve 72 to be seated thus shutting off the 'bleed line 58 even after the nozzle 22 is withdrawn from-the tank spout.

A vacuum actuated shut-off nozzle provided with my improved safety means'will function at all angles of insertion and it is not limited as are the filler nozzles used heretofore to the filling of containers having a relatively long, narrow receiving spout. The applicability of a filling nozzle provided with my improved safety means is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 2 container 80 is provided with a relatively narrow receiving spout 85. The filling nozzle of Figure l is shown with its nozzle 22 inserted in the spout 85 and the spring member 77 is shown deflected toward the nozzle 22 in its operative position by reasons of its contact with the marginal surfaces of the spout 85.

In Figure 3, the filling nozzle of Figure l is shown inserted dispensing liquid in a container 86. The nozzle 22 is inserted in a relatively short, wide mouth spout 87, spring member 77 being deflected again toward the nozzle 22 in its operative position by reasons of its contact with the marginal surfaces of spout 87.

It is thus apparent that should the filling nozzle be accidentally removed from the spout of the container being filled while liquid is being dispensed, appreciable spillage of liquid is prevented. With a filling nozzle provided with an improved safety means of my invention the attendant is free to perform his other servicing duties after having set the lever handle in the appropriate latch yoke without having to maintain surveillance of the liquid dispensing operation. In reducing to practice the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have perfected a more safe and reliable automatic liquid dispensing nozzle which has performed satisfactorily in actual use.

Variations and modifications of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of my invention and it should be understood that the foregoing discussion and drawings are for illustrative purposes and do not unduly limit my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for insertion in a container to be filled with liquid comprising a valve body having a liquid passage therein, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid through said passage, said mechanism including a valve, a chamber in said body, a pressure responsive member associated with said chamber, a discharge nozzle connected to said passage downstream of said valve, an air duct communicating with said chamber at one end and disposed at its other end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, means continuously evacuating said chamber when liquid flows through said valve, and means actuated by said pressure responsive member to close said valve when air is prevented from entering said chamber, the improvement comprising a spring element exterior to said nozzle and substantially extending down the length thereof, said element retained at one end to said nozzle and the other end secured to said body and having an intermediate portion spaced from said nozzle, and a valve assembly normally adapted to close the said other end of said duct and to open the same when said intermediate portion is biased toward said nozzle to actuate said valve assembly.

. 2. In a device for insertion in a container to be filled with liquid comprising a valve body having a liquid passage therein, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid through said passage, said mechanism including a? valve and means urging said valve in a closed position, a valve opening constricted in the direction of flow, manual means for opening said valve, releasable means for holding said valve in open position, a chamber in said body associated with a diaphragm, said constricted opening and said chamber being in communication with one another whereby air will be aspirated from said chamber during the flow of liquid, a discharge nozzle connected to said passage downstream of said valve, an air duct inside of said nozzle and having one end opening into said chamber, the other end of said air duct in communication with an orifice disposed adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and an operative connection between said dia- 6 phragm and said valve whereby when air is prevented from entering said chamber said diaphragm will be moved to operatively actuate a mechanism for releasing said releasable means so as to release said valve and permit it to close, the improvement comprising a spring element exterior to said nozzle and substantially extending down the length thereof, said element retained at one end to said nozzle and the other end secured to said body and having an intermediate portion spaced from said nozzle, and a valve assembly inside said nozzle disposed to normally obstruct said communication between said orifice and said chamber and to effect said communication when said intermediate portion of said spring element is biased toward said nozzle to actuate said valve assembly and prevent said obstruction.

3. In an automatic shut-off dispensing nozzle for insertion in the spout of a container to be filled with liquid comprising a valve body with a liquid passage therein, a valve in said body adapted to be seated in a constricted opening in said passage and to control the flow of liquid therethrough, a valve spring urging said valve to a closed position, a diaphragm and chamber associated therewith, said chamber and said constricted opening being in communication with one another whereby air will be aspirated from said chamber during flow of liquid, a lever having a position for manually opening said valve against the pressure of said valve spring, a friction latch for holding the lever in said position, a discharge nozzle communicating with said passage, an air duct inside said nozzle and having one end opening to said chamber, the other end of said air duct in communication with an orifice disposed adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle whereby air is drawn from said orifice through said chamber into said constricted opening when fluid flows therethrough and said air duct is unobstructed, and an operative connection between said diaphragm and said valve whereby when air is prevented from entering said chamber said diaphragm will be moved to operatively actuate a mechanism for releasing said lever from said friction latch so as to release said valve and permit it to close, the improvement comprising a spring element exterior to said nozzle and having an intermediate portion normally spaced therefrom, said element having one end retained to said nozzle at a point adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and the other end of said element secured by a yoke hinge to said body, a valve assembly secured to the inside of said nozzle, said assembly having a chamber therein in communication with the said other end of said air duct and in communication with said orifice, and a normally seated valve in said assembly having a valve stem extending through said orifice, said valve stem adapted to come into contact with said element when said nozzle is inserted in said spout in such a manner so as to bias said intermediate portion of said element toward said nozzle when the same comes into contact with the marginal surfaces of said spout, thereby allowing air to be drawn from said orifice to said air duct.

4. In an automatic shut-off dispensing nozzle for insertion in the spout of a container to be filled with liquid comprising a valve body with a liquid passage therein, a valve in said body adapted to be seated in a constricted opening in said passage and to control the flow of liquid therethrough, a valve spring urging said valve to a closed position, a diaphragm and chamber associated therewith, said chamber and said constricted opening being in co1nmunication with one another whereby air will be aspirated from said chamber during flow of liquid, a lever having a position for normally opening said valve against the pressure of said valve spring, a friction latch for holding the lever in said position, a discharge nozzle communicating with said passage, an air duct inside said nozzle and having one end opening to said chamber, the other end of said air duct in communication with an orifice disposed adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle whereby air is drawn from said orifice through said chamber into said constricted opening when fluid flows therethrough and said air duct is unobstructed, and an operative connection between said diaphragm and said valve whereby when air is prevented from entering said chamber said diaphragm will be moved to operatively actuate a mechanism for releasing said lever from said friction latch and close said valve, the improvement comprising a spring element exterior to said nozzle and having an intermediate portion normally spaced therefrom, said element retained to said nozzle at a point immediately adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and the other end of said element secured by a yoke hinge to said body, said element having a plurality of lugs associated with an upper portion of said intermediate portion of said element, a resilient tube encompassing said upper portion, a valve assembly secured to the inside of said nozzle, said assembly having a chamber therein in communication with said other end of said air duct and in communication with said orifice, a normally seated valve in said assembly having a valve stem extending through said orifice, and a spring urging said normally seated valve to a closed position.

5. In a device for insertion in a container to be filled with liquid comprising a valve body having a liquid passage therein, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid through said passage, said mechanism including a valve, a chamber in said body, a pressure responsive member associated with said chamber, a discharge nozzle connected to said passage downstream of said valve, an air duct communicating with said chamber at one end and disposed at its other end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, means continuously evacuating said chamber when liquid flows through said valve, and means actuated by said pressure responsive member to close said valve when air is prevented from entering said chamber, the

improvement comprising a biasing member exterior to said nozzle and substantially extending down the length thereof, said biasing member retained at one end to said nozzle and the other end hinged to said body and having an intermediate portion spaced from said nozzle, and a valve assembly normally adapted to close the said other end of said duct and to open the same when said interme diate portion is biased toward said nozzle to actuate said valve assembly.

6. In a device for insertion in a container to be filled with liquid comprising a valve body having a liquid passage therein, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid through said passage, said mechanism including a valve, a chamber in said body, a pressure responsive member associated with said chamber, a discharge nozzle connected to said passage downstream of said valve, an air duct communicating with said chamber at one end and disposed at its other end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, means continuously evacuating said chamber when liquid flows through said valve, and means actuated by said pressure responsive member to close said valve when air is prevented from entering said chamber, the improvement comprising a biasing member exteriorly mounted on said nozzle and disposed to engage said container, and a valve assembly normally adapted to close the said other end of said duct and to open the same when said biasing member is biased toward said nozzle to actuate said valve assembly on contact with said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

